Sony Pictures Television opens Dubai office

The new office will be headed up by Ziad Yaghi, who will be responsible for expanding the company's business with local broadcasters through the Middle East as well as managing existing output deals with regional broadcasters.

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has opened a sales office in Dubai, expanding its reach in the Middle East.

The office, to be headed up by Ziad Yaghi, will license films and television series from Sony Pictures’ distribution catalog as well as finished, local content produced by SPT’s prodco in the region, SPT Arabia.

Yaghi will oversee SPT’s distribution activity across the Middle East, and is tasked with expanding business with local broadcasters in each territory as well as managing existing output deals with regional broadcasters. He will report to Damian Newton, senior vice president, sales, Middle East, Central & Eastern Europe, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. Newton operates out of SPT’s regional EMEA headquarters in London.

Prior to joining SPT, Yaghi was director, legal at Dubai Entertainment and Media Organization. He has also served as director and founder of the Dubai Film Market, director of media regulatory affairs for TECOM Authority, and legal counsel & director of acquisitions, VOD for ORBIT.

“Recent years have seen a boom in new TV channel launches across the Middle East, offering a real growth market that SPT’s distribution business can thrive in,” said Stuart Baxter, senior executive vice president, EMEA distribution for SPT. “This new office is part of our ongoing commitment to get closer to our clients and gain a greater understanding of their needs. Ziad brings impressive Middle East experience and, under his leadership, I’m certain this new base is set to become an important asset to our business.”

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About The Author

Daniele Alcinii is a news reporter at realscreen, the leading international publisher of non-fiction film and television industry news and content. He joins the rs team with journalism experience following a stint out west with Sun Media in Edmonton's Capital Region, and communications work in Melbourne, Australia and Toronto. You can follow him on Twitter at @danielealcinii.